PHILOSOPHER

Thomas Hobbes

1588 - 1679

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Thomas Hobbes ( HOBZ; 5 April 1588 – 4 December 1679) was an English philosopher, best known for his 1651 book Leviathan, in which he expounds an influential formulation of social contract theory. He is considered to be one of the founders of modern political philosophy. In his early life, overshadowed by his father's departure following a fight, he was taken under the care of his wealthy uncle. Hobbes's academic journey began in Westport, leading him to the University of Oxford, where he was exposed to classical literature and mathematics. Read more on Wikipedia

His biography is available in different languages on Wikipedia. Thomas Hobbes is the 31st most popular philosopher (down from 28th in 2019), the 41st most popular biography from United Kingdom (down from 23rd in 2019) and the 3rd most popular British Philosopher.

Thomas Hobbes is most famous for his political philosophy, which is a form of social contract theory. Hobbes believed that the natural state of humanity is one of war, and that without a strong government to enforce the peace, life would be "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short."

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Among PHILOSOPHERS

Among philosophers, Thomas Hobbes ranks 31 out of 1,267. Before him are Montesquieu, Democritus, Seneca the Younger, Epicurus, Averroes, and Al-Ghazali. After him are Friedrich Engels, Auguste Comte, Martin Heidegger, Maria Montessori, Parmenides, and Søren Kierkegaard.

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Contemporaries

Among people born in 1588, Thomas Hobbes ranks 1. After him are Marin Mersenne, Constance of Austria, Hendrick ter Brugghen, Marina Mniszech, Henri, Prince of Condé, Isaac Beeckman, Catherine de Vivonne, marquise de Rambouillet, Adolf Frederick I, Duke of Mecklenburg, Robert Filmer, Pierre Séguier, and Jan Janssonius. Among people deceased in 1679, Thomas Hobbes ranks 1. After him are Jan Steen, Giovanni Alfonso Borelli, Ferdinand Maria, Elector of Bavaria, Anne Conway, Joost van den Vondel, John Maurice, Prince of Nassau-Siegen, John Frederick, Duke of Brunswick-Calenberg, John of Austria the Younger, Marie de Rohan, Willem van Aelst, and Jean François Paul de Gondi.

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In United Kingdom

Among people born in United Kingdom, Thomas Hobbes ranks 41 out of 8,785. Before him are Queen Victoria (1819), Mary II of England (1662), Michael Faraday (1791), Edward V of England (1470), Agatha Christie (1890), and H. G. Wells (1866). After him are Edmond Halley (1656), Alexander Graham Bell (1847), Mary I of England (1516), Charles Dickens (1812), Alan Turing (1912), and Alexander Fleming (1881).

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Among PHILOSOPHERS In United Kingdom

Among philosophers born in United Kingdom, Thomas Hobbes ranks 3. Before him are Francis Bacon (1561), and John Locke (1632). After him are David Hume (1711), Thomas More (1478), Herbert Spencer (1820), Roger Bacon (1220), Jeremy Bentham (1748), William of Ockham (1285), Joseph Priestley (1733), John Wycliffe (1324), and Duns Scotus (1265).

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